BIKERELIABILITY Reg check
Head-to-head · 2005–2025

Data as of: DVSA MOT results to 2025

Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 vs Honda CBF125

The Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBF125: 75.9% vs 73.3%, a 2.6-point lead.

MOT reliability, side by side

first-time pass rate, outright fail rate and tests analysed · 2005–2025
Metric Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 Honda CBF125
First-time pass rate 75.9% 73.3%
Outright fail rate 16.5% 16.5%
Vs comparable bikes (age & mileage adjusted) +5.1 pts +1.1 pts
Engine size 124cc 125cc
Rank among all models #4197 of 5428 #4471 of 5428
Median miles at test 11,888 10,974
MOT tests analysed 1,185 84,425
Most common failure steering and suspension brakes

First-time outcomes on normal tests, 2005–2025. "Most common failure" is the component group with the most recorded defects on failed tests. Read pass rates against test counts: a smaller sample is noisier. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results.

"Vs comparable bikes" is the first-time pass rate minus the rate expected for each bike's own mix of age, mileage and test class, in percentage points: positive means better than comparable bikes. How this works.

What fails, side by side

share of each bike's MOT tests that failed on the component · lower is better
Component Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 Honda CBF125
Lights & signalling 6.9% 8.0%
Steering & suspension 7.4% 6.2%
Brakes 4.7% 6.8%
Tyres & wheels 5.1% 3.5%
Structure & body 1.3% 4.1%
Drive system 0% 2.0%
Fuel & exhaust 1.5% 0.1%

A test that fails on two components counts once in each. Component links go to the bikes most likely to fail on it.

Pass rate by test year

first-time MOT pass rate in each calendar year both bikes were tested
Test year Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 Honda CBF125
2011 75.4% 69.3%
2012 73.7% 73.0%
2013 79.3% 73.5%
2014 74.6% 72.0%
2015 71.6% 71.8%
2016 78.9% 72.2%
2017 71.9% 71.3%

Each year mixes bikes of different ages, so a fleet that is getting older tends to slip.

Pass rate by mileage

first-time MOT pass rate by miles on the clock at test
Mileage Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 Honda CBF125
0k-10k miles 79.3% 80.3%
10k-20k miles 75.4% 68.7%
20k-30k miles 72.5% 65.5%
30k-40k miles 64.3% 63.9%

Bands with fewer than 30 tests for either bike are left out.

Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 vs Honda CBF125 FAQ

answers computed from the data above · terms in the glossary

Which is more reliable, the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 or the Honda CBF125?

The Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 passes its MOT first time more often than the Honda CBF125: 75.9% vs 73.3%, a 2.6-point lead. Adjusted for age, mileage and test class, the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 still comes out ahead: +5.1 points vs comparable bikes for the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125, +1.1 for the Honda CBF125. An MOT checks roadworthiness items, not engine or gearbox internals.

What does the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 fail its MOT on most?

Steering & suspension: 7.4% of Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 MOT tests failed on it, then lights & signalling (6.9%).

What does the Honda CBF125 fail its MOT on most?

Lights & signalling: 8.0% of Honda CBF125 MOT tests failed on it, then brakes (6.8%).

Which holds up better at high mileage, the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 or the Honda CBF125?

They are level: at 30k-40k miles the Aprilia Leonardo Sport City 125 passes 64.3% first time and the Honda CBF125 63.9%.

See each bike's full report (trend, mileage curve, failure breakdown and rivals) on its own page.